Method of printing



June 8, 1943. Y A WEISS 2,321,057

METHOD oF PRINTING Original Filed June 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Q92 mi 174 M 775 '778 o o 745 179 o 730 x O \`Z7z o /O 17? 181 ,o I. O 6, Bm f O o a; fw

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IN VENTOR.

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IW l Patented vJ une 8, 1943 ME'rnon oF PRINTING Adolph Weiss, Brooklyn, N. Y., asslgnor, by mesne assignments, to Interchemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Original application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,325. Divided and this application October 25, 1939, Serial No. 301,113

9 Claims. `(Cl. 101-426) This invention relates to methods of rotary intaglio printing. The subject-matter was initially presented in my application Serial No. 211,325, led June 2, 1938 (now Patent No. 2,217,- 191, issued October 8, 1940), of which this is a division. y

In conventional rotary `intaglio printing, the length of the printing cylinder impression is equal to the peripheral length (i. e., circumference) of the printing cylinder. Thus, the diameter of the cylinder determines the length of the impression, and a dilferent diameter printing cylinder is required for each length of impression desired.

Objects of this invention are to provide methods of making impressions greater or less than the peripheral length of the printing cylinder.

Other objects are to provide methods of varying the length of the impression without varying the peripheral length of the printing cylinder.

Further objects are to provide flexibility for meeting various industrial requirements with rotary intaglio printing. l

Various additional objects will become evident from the following disclosure.

It will be understood that when I refer to length of the printing cylinder impression or length of the impression," I mean the length of web which passes the printing point during one complete printing cycle; and this is regardless of whether or not the printed design occupies the entire length of the impression, and regardless of whether the printing cycle involves one, more than one, or less than one rotation of the printing cylinder. pression (or the like) should not be confused with the peripheral length of the printing cylinder.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a diagrammatic view showing a rotary intagli-o printing press with which the present .invention may be carried out.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged scale elevation, partially in section, of a. phase change coupling shown in Fig, l. While this is a structural type of view, the gure is supplementary to diagrammatic Fig. l. Accordingly the illustration of the coupling may be considered as diagrammatic in its relation to the machine as a whole.

Fig. 3 is a partially diagrammatic elevation of an adjustable cam that may be utilized in presses f which carry out the present invention.

Figs. 4 to 12, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating some of the variations in printing results that can be achieved by utilizing the nliresent invention.

Thus, length of the im- Reference will first be had to Figs. '1, 2, and 3. A web |45 passes from supply roll |18 over guide roller |1| and between printing cylinder |12 and pressure roller |14. Subsequent to the printing, the web passes between feed rollers |15 and |16. and is delivered between the blades |11 and |18 of cutting shears. Between the printing cylinder |12 and feed rollers |15, |16, the web may pass over two rollers |19 and |80, which are so" arranged as to vary the distance which the web must travel in moving from the printing cylinder to the cutting shears. The axis of roller |19 is stationary, but roller |80 is rotatably mounted on a swinging frame |8| which is pivoted coaxially with roller |19. By swinging the frame |8| and locking it to a sector |82 by set screw |84, adjustment is made to vary the length of the travel of the web between the printing cylinder |12 and the cutting shears. This adjustment permits severing of the web at any selected point in the printing cylinder impression, so that printed slips may be made with the printing located in any desired zone of the slip. For continuous strip printing the shears may be omitted or rendered inactive.

The various driven elements of the press are mechanically connected together to be actuated from a single source of power indicated as an electric motor |85. To permit a clear and convenient diagrammatic showing of the operating relationship of the different parts, bevelled gears have been indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. However, in actual machine construction, it is preferableto so arrange the parts as to permit the use of spur gears or the like. As shown in the drawings, the motor drives shafts |86* and |86", which are in eliect a single shaft. By means of shaft |81, power is transmitted to the printing cylinder |12 to rotate it at predetermined speed, which may be the speed of 'the motor. A cam |88 (to be referred to later) is driven in coordination with the printing cylinder |1.2 by power transmitted to it through shaft |89, phasechange coupling |98, shaft |9|, variable speed mechanism |92, and shaft |93, which is geared to the drive shaft. At least one of feed rollers |15 and |16 is driven in coordination with the printing cylinder |12, the driving power being transmitted from the drive shaft |86b through shaft |94, variable speed mechanism |95, and shaft |96. The movable blade |11 of the web cutting shears is adapted to be actuated by cam |06b through shaft |86, variable speed mechanism |08, shaft 200, phase-changing coupling 20|, and shaft 202.

Pressure roller |14 is rotatably mounted on a pivoted frame 203, lwhich is adapted to be rocked by cam |66. When the inactive (or low) zone of cam |86 is in contact with roller 204, the pressure roller |14 holds the web |45 in contact with the printing cylinder |12. Accordingly, throughout -the inactive zone of cam f|86 the web is printed -nism |95, the peripheral speed of feed rollers |15,

|16 may be adjusted to conform with the peripheral speed of different sizes of printing cylinders |12 which may be inserted into the machine. Variable speed mechanism |99 provides an adjustment so that the cutting shears may be set to operate at any'desired frequency in relation to the cyclic operation of the machine; for example, the web may be severed into lengths corresponding to one, less than one, or more than one rotation of printing cylinder |12. Phase-change coupling 26| provides a means whereby the point of severance may be located on the web, though a similar location may be effected by adjusting the position of roller |60. Variable speed mechanism1|92 permits the control cam |88 to be rotated at various cyclic rates in relation to the rotation of the printing cylinder |12. Also phase-change coupling |90 permits any inactive sector of cam |66 to be locatedv in coordination with any selected peripheral zone of the printing cylinder |12.

'I'he press may be so controlled that upon being set in operation, it automatically stops after one or more printing cycles (e. g., after printing and cutting one or more slips).

A cam 306 is shown as driven from drive shaft |86a through shaft 30|, variable speed mechalanism 302, shaft 363, phase change coupling 304, shaft 365, and shaft 306. Thus cam 300 may be set at any phase with respect to the printing cylinder; and for each rotation of the printing cylinder, this cam may make one, more than one, or less than one rotation. Once each rotation, cam 306 elevates member |03' and stops the press. The starting and stopping of the press is effected by controlling motor |85 with a mechanical and electrical system associated with member |03'. 'I'his system will now be described.

Suitably insulated and mounted are movable contacts |50 and 52 which are spring biased away from stationary contacts |5| and |53 respectively. Pivotally mounted as shown in a bell crank lever f|54 having a. vertical leg adapted to engage contact |52. A spring |54'L biases bell crank lever |54 with sufficient strength to overcome-the bias of contact |52 and close the same when lever |54 is free to move. A shaft |55 haskeyed or pinned thereto a bell crank lever |56.

This lever is movablev to close contact |56, but is biased in the opposite direction by spring |56".

. Assume that the machine is in operation, with the printing cycle in progress. The electrical contacts are then in the positions Shown, the .Ciicllil to the motor being maintained by relay R. The holding circuit for relayR is through connection |60, contact |50, contacts |56 and |52, and connection `|6| and switch |64 to the line. At the end of the printing cycle member |63' is raised by cam 300. This moves bell crank lever |54 and permits contacts |53, |52 to open. The opening of contacts |52, |53 breaks the holding circuit of relay R, allowing the relay to open and stop driving motor |85. Thus the press stops with the member |03 in its uppermost position. Attached to member |03 is a latch-engaging hook |62 which moves upwardly with member |03', allowing latch |63 to advance so that its upper portion engages the end of the horizontal arm of bell crank lever |56 when the press is stopped.

To restart the press, shaft |55 is moved clockclockwise (to start the press) upon extraction from the machine of a previously printed slip. Movement of shaft |55 clockwise, moves bell crank lever 56 clockwise. This closes contacts |50, |5| which complete the circuit to relay R, so that the relay operates and starts the driving motor |85. The movement of bell crank lever 56 also causes its horizontal arm to snap under latch |63 which is arranged to hold the bell crank lever in its operated position, thereby maintaining contacts |50, |5| closed as the press starts to operate. The initial movement of the press causes member |03 to descend, which allows bell crank lever |54 to rotate clockwise and close contacts |52, |53. This restores the original holding circuit for relay R, through connection |60, contact |50, contacts |53 and |52, connection |6|, and switch |64. After contacts |52, |53 are closed. hook I 62 retracts latch |63 and permits bell crank lever |56 to return to the position shown and contacts :I 50, 5| to open.

When the machine cycle is completed, contacts |52, |53 are again opened and the machine,

stopped. If it is desired to operate the press continuously, switch |64 is shifted' from contact |65 to contact |66, thus connecting the motor |85 for continuous operation.

Fig. 2 shows more clearly the diagrammatic phase-change couplings |90, 20|, and 364. The driving shaft of the coupling is keyed to a collar 205 and the driven shaft is keyed to an abutting collar 206. Set screw 201 secures collar 205 to the driven shaft for the transmission of power. By loosening the set screw, the driven shaft can be rotated with respect to the driving shaft to change the operating phase of the part actuated from the driven shaft. To aid in making the adjustment, the contiguous ends of collars 265 and 206 may be provided with a scale and cooperating index as shown in the drawings.

The control cam |86 for elevating the pressure roller |14 may be of a suitable adjustable type. One of such type of adjustable cam is shown in Fig. 3. Aiilxed to the cam shaft 2|2 is a cam element 2|0 having an active (or high) zone which extends clockwise from the line s to the line t. Rotatably mounted on the cam shaft is a replaceable and adjustable cam element 2|| having an active zone extending clockwise from the line u to the line v. Attached to cam shaft 2| 2 is a collar 2 I3 which holds the adjustable cam element 2|| against the main cam element 2|6. A bolt 208 passes through an arcuate slot 269 in the adjustable cam element and is threaded sanos? into the main cam element. The cam roller a:

has a face wide enough to engage both the edge of the main cam element 2li) and the adjustable cam element 2| I. By setting the adjustable cam element to eii'ect various degrees of overlap of the active zones of'elements 2 I 8 and 2| i, the elective active and inactive zones of the cam are varied.

lliigs. 4 to 12 show a few of the many printing effects that may be produced by utilizing the present invention. The webs shown in these figures represent the web after it has been acted upon by the printing cylinder. I'br thesake of illustration, the printing cylinder is assumed to be engraved with either a square design, or a circular design, or both. Each design printed o n the web is illustrated in full lines. Where a design on the printing cylinder passes the printing zone without being printed (due to pressure roller |18 being elevated), the location of such design with respect to the web is indicated in dot-dash lines in Figs. 4 to 12.

For each of Figs. 4 to 12 the printing cylinder is the same size, and cam |88 is the same though rotated at various speeds relative to the printing cylinder. In each of these figures, one printing cylinder rotation corresponds to the web length between consecutive vertical dot-dash lines. However, the location of these lines has nothing to do with the beginning and end of the printed slips (if such are being made) as the web may be so severed as to place the design on any selected part of the slip.

For Fig. 4, the control cam (|88 in Fig. 1) rotates synchronously with the printing cylinder which has one square engraving. The cam action graph |88* indicates that the web is ln contact -with the printing cylinder during intervals i (five shown) and out of contact during intervening intervals h. Accordingly, web |85' is printed as shown, with one rectangle per printing cylinder rotation; and the length of the printing cylinder impression is equal to arrow 800, which is the peripherial length of the printing cylinder.

To print the web 5b shown in Fig. 5 it is only necessary to so adjust the speed of cam |88 that it makes one rotation for each two rotations of the printing cylinder. In other words, the cam runs at half the angular speed of the printing cylinder. As indicated by cam graph |88", the design is printed only every second rotation of the printing cylinder, so that the printing cylinder impression is twice the peripherial length of the printing cylinder, as indicated by the length of arrow 8001.

Fig. 6 shows the eiect of reducing the angular speed of the cam |88 to one third that of the printing cylinder as indicated by graph |88. The design is printed on web only once every third rotation of the printing cylinder; and the printing cylinder impression has a length equal to arrow 400.

In Fig. '7 the web 5d is printed the same as the web in Fig. 6. The printing cylinder impression has the same length as indicated by arrow 4 001. However, the result is obtained by rotating the control cam at two-thirds the angular speed of the printing cylinder, the cam action being indicated by graph |889.

For Figures 8 to 12, the printing cylinder has both square and circular engravings. Operated in continuous contact with the web, it would print the web |45e shownin Fig. 8, the length of the printing cylinder impression being indicated by arrow 400@ If this two design cylinder is used with the cam |88 operating as for Fig. 4, it prints a web |88t as shown in Fig. 9. This is the same as web |48'. the circular design being blanked out by the cam action indicated by graph |88. The length of the impression is that of arrow 488'.

By cutting the cam speed in half as indicated by graph |88', Fig. 10, the web |48' is printed. This is the same as web |48, Fig. 5, the length of thexprinting cylinder impression being that of arrow888.

For Fig 11, the cam is operated synchronously with the printing cylinder asindicated by graph |8811. However, the phase of the cam is shifted 180 degrees from the condition indicated in Fig. 9. Thus, the web illll is printed with the circular design instead of the square design. Arrow 408h indicates the length of the impression, which is equal to the peripheral length of the printing cylinder.

For Fig. 12, the cam' |88 is slowed to half speed as indicated by graph |881. The result is that the length of the impression is` doubled as indicated by the length of arrow 8881; and web |88l is printed with the circular design every second revolution of the printing cylinder.

For these examples, it will be apparentthat a variety of etects may be produced by suitably correlating the angular speeds of the control cam and printing cylinders. These may be related after the manner of ratios used in hunting tooth gear sets. Thus even with a cam speed near to the cylinder speed, the length of the impression may be made several (or even many) times the peripheral length of the printing cylinder. Also, the same cylinder may have various designs which may be printed selectively or in various chosen combinations. In parent application Serial No. 211,325, filed June 2, 1938 (now Patent No. 2,217,191, issued October 8, 1940) and also in another division thereof Serial No. 301,114, filed ctober 25, 1939, Iv have shown another press by means of which various aspects of the invention may be carried out.

In compliance with the patent statutes, I have disclosed the best forms in which I have contemplated applying my invention. However, it will be understood that the disclosures are illustratlve and not limiting.

` What is claimed is: c

1. In the art of printing, the method of producing individual printed slips having cylinder impression lengths less than the peripheral length of the printing cylinder, which method comprises:

, continuously rotating the printing cylinder for a full revolution, continuously feeding a web to be printed in one direction only and in a path adjacent to said printing cylinder so that said web may be brought into printing engagement therewith, engaging the web with the cylinder at a predetermined point in the cylinder rotation, maintaining the engagement during a fraction only of the cylinder rotation, then disengaging the web from the printing cylinder and feeding a length of the web corresponding to the length of the cylinder impression on the web to a severing point,

and there severing said length from the web.

2. In the art of printing, the method of printing selectively from a printing cylinder having a plurality of designs spaced about its periphery, which method comprises: continuously rotating the cylinder, passing a web adjacent to the cylinder and feeding the web independently of feed by the cylinder and in one direction only, contacting the web with the cylinder during the time when the selected design is adjacent to the web, and disengaging the web from the cylinder during the time when any non-selected design is adjacent to the web.

3. In the art-of printing, the method of printing a web. with impressions longer than the peripheral length of the printing cylinder, which method comprises: rotating the cylinder, passing the web adjacent to the cylinder 'and feeding the web in one direction only and independently of feed by thecylinder, and alternately contacting and disengaging the web from the cylinder at a cyclic rate less than the frequency of complete cylinder rotations.

4. In the art of printing, the method of producing individual printed slips having cylinder` impression lengths greater than the peripheral length of the printing cylinder, which method comprises: continuously rotating the printing cylinder, engaging a web to be printed with the cylinder at a predetermined point in the cylinder rotation, disengaging the web from the printing cylinder after a predetermined amount of rotation in contact with the web which amount of rotation is greater than one revolution of said printing cylinder, advancing -a predetermined length of the web to a severing point while out of contact with the printing4 cylinder, and severing a slip from the printed web, the length of the slip corresponding to the length of web-passing the printing cylinder and advanced to the severing point during the foregoing steps.

5. In the art of printing, a method of printing selectively from a printing cylinder having a plurality of designs spaced about its periphery, comprising, continuously rotating the printing cylinder, independently feeding a web adjacent to the cylinder, contacting the web with the cylinder during that time in-its continuous rotation when a selected design is'adjacent to the` web, and disengaging the web from the cylinder during that time in its continuous rotation when any nonselected design is adjacent to the web.

6. In the operation of a rotary printing press, a method of producing printed impressions differing in length from the peripheral length of a printing cylinder having a plurality of designs spaced about its periphery, comprising continuously rotating the printing cylinder, feeding a web in a forward direction in juxtaposition to the rotatingprinting cylinder so that said web may be brought into printing engagement therewith, alternately contacting the web with the cylinder when a selected design is adjacent to the web and disengaging the web from the cylinder when a non-selected design is adjacent the web, and feeding the web in the same forward direction while it is out of contact with the printing cylinder.

` 7. In the art of printing. a method of printing a web with impressions longer than the peripheral length of the printing cylinder, comprising continuously rotating the cylinder, independently feeding theweb adjacent to the cylinder and in one direction only, and alternately contacting and disengaging the web from the cylinder at a cyclic rate less than the frequency of complete cylinder rotations.

s. In 'the art of printing, a method or printing Y a web with impressions a predetermined amount longer than the peripheral length of a printing cylinder having a plurality of designs spaced jacent to the web and disengag' g the cylinder'` during the time in its continuous rotation when a non-selected design is adjacent to the web.

9. In the art of printing, 'a method of printing a web with impressions longerthan the peripheral length'of the cylinder, comprising vrotating the cylinder, feeding the Web adjacent tothe cylinder and in one.v direction only, alternately contacting and disengaging the web from the cylinder -at a cyclic rate less than the frequency of complete cylinder rotations, and feeding the web in the same forward direction while it is out of contact with the printing cylinder.

' ADOLPH wmss. 

